Champion ram and ewe at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, shown by BLU youth member Keiran Van Horsen of Albany, OR. Congratulations, Keiran!
Tag: BLU Youth
2018 YCP yearling ewe winner
The winner of the Bluefaced Leicester yearling ewe from the Youth Conservation Program this year is Mackenzie Weist. Makenzie is the daughter of Jennifer and Kevin Weist, and hails from Creamton, PA. In her essay that is part of the selection process, Mackenzie states that she lives on a farm that her great, great grandparents purchased in the early 1900’s. The farm has a history of sheep on it, and now is home to Bluefaced Leicesters. She looks forward to using the fleece from her ewe to make a sweater, and a hat for her aunt. The ewe was donated by Pitchfork Ranch in Michigan. Pictured is Margaret VanCamp with Mackenzie and her new BFL ewe
Reserve in Show!
BLU youth member Rhiannon Curley entered a single fleece in the open class wool show during the recent Deschutes county fair in Redmond, OR. It was from her new ram, Jehovah’s Cornerstone. The fleece placed champion in the BFL division, and then it took Reserve Grand Champion Fleece in the wool show.
Deschutes County Fair, Oregon
BLU members Rhiannon Curley and Correy McAtee showing BFL ewe lambs at the recent Deschutes County Fair in Oregon.
Congratulations Charlie!
Our newest BLU youth member, Charlie O’Boyle, with his reserve champion ewe at the Allegany county fair in Maryland. Charlie was the winner of the YCP program yearling ewe, donated by Meredith Myers-Null during the recent Maryland Sheep & Wool festival. Charlie’s brother, William, is also a YCP recipient, having been awarded his yearling ewe last year. His ewe was donated by Pitchfork Ranch.
NORTH EAST YOUTH SHEEP SHOW results
Iris with her ewe
2 BLU youth members showed at the 33rd NORTH EAST YOUTH SHEEP SHOW @ the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds, West Springfield, Massachusetts this weekend.
Ellora Chapin had champion AOB ram, and Iris LaRochelle showed the champion AOB ewe. Ellora also showed the 1st and 2nd place AOB JR ewe lambs.
Ellora with her ram
The North East Youth Sheep Show is the third largest and longest running youth sheep show in the country. It is the premier all-breed junior show in the Northeast, attracting over 200 youth exhibitors and over 600 head of sheep, with 20+ breeds represented!
BLU is a paid sponsor of this show.
Ellora with her 1st & 2nd AOB JR ewe lambs
BSG Youth Show Results
The Grand Champion Ram Lamb during the Youth show at the Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene OR is Terra Mia Arthur, owned and shown by Isabelle Pierre. Isabelle is a new youth member, and Arthur is her first lamb in her BFL flock.
The Reserve Champion Ram Lamb is owned by Rhiannon Curley, also a BLU member. Both girls hail from Oregon.
Show results from the Maryland Sheep & Wool festival BFL classes
Champion Ram – Margaret VanCamp – Pitchfork Ranch
Champion Ewe – Ellora Chapin
Res CH Ewe – VanCamp
Flock – VanCamp
Best Fleece – Ellora Chapin
Also showing were Meredith Myers-Null and Cathie Shiff. These are all white BFLs; the natural colored BFLs are shown in the natural colored longwool classes.
Here is Ellora – a BLU Junior member – with her Premier Exhibitor plaque. Congratulations!
33RD NORTH EAST YOUTH SHEEP SHOW JULY 13 – 16, 2017
Eastern States Exposition West Springfield, MA
The North East Youth Sheep Show (NEYSS) is the 3rd largest and longest running youth sheep show in the country. It is the premier all-breed junior show in the northeast, attracting 200 youth exhibitors and 600 head of sheep, with 20+ breeds represented.
Weekend activities include: ? Breed Shows ? Market Lamb Show ? Fleece Competition ? Fitting & Showmanship Classes ? Skill-a-thon & Quiz Bowl Contests ? Educational Clinics ? Friday Fun Night – Pizza Party & Ice Cream Social ? Saturday Used Equipment Auction ? Presentation of the NESWGA Harry Hardwick Scholarship and Youth Grants
Premiums and participation awards are given, as well as breed Champion and Reserve Champion banners and sashes. The weekend culminates with the selection of the Supreme Ram, Ewe, and Flock awards. The NEYSS is open to youth 21 years old and under. The deadline to enter is June 15, 2017.
The NEYSS is sponsored by the New England Sheep & Wool Growers Association (NESWGA). It is supported by national breed associations, local organizations and individual sponsors. To learn more about the NEYSS, NESWGA, or how to become a sponsor, please visit http://www.nesheep.org.
Contact: Kim Syme
Cell phone: 860-202-7004 Email: scotchlanefarm@cox.net
Summary of January 19th 2017 board meeting
The BLU board met for its organizational meeting on January 19th at 7PM EST. Board members in attendance included newly elected member Kat Bierkens of Oregon. In the absence of President Margaret VanCamp, due to illness, VP Joan Chapin welcomed Kat to the board, and also recognized outgoing board member Bill O’Donnell for his time and service to BLU.
Set/Treas Lisa Rodenfels gave the treasurer’s report. The current balance is $9,401.16, with a net gain of $1332.46 for the year 2016. She provided the board with a detailed printout showing each entry for income and expense throughout the year.
In the secretary’s report, Lisa told the board that she is working on a postcard to remind members to pay their 2017 dues. It will also mention the site of the 2018 National Show, the new credit card payment option for registrations, and that we now have a new BFL chat group on Facebook. There are currently 98 paid members, up from 82 at the end of 2015.
Next were the committee reports
The chair for the 2018 National Show, Karen Szewc, told the board that she has confirmed that the Black Sheep Gathering will be thrilled to host our show. They have stated that we can have whatever classes we would like. Besides the usual, the board suggested adding best headed ram and ewe, and also having aged ram and aged ewe classes. A special class to feature our youth exhibitors was also discussed. Karen will work on that plan, and will be looking for BLU members who would like to sponsor special awards for some of the classes.
The Genetics Taskforce chair, Heather Landin reported on the likelihood of importing semen from the UK now due to the long quarantine requirements and repeated bloodtesting. A possible answer to this problem is the convince USDA to accept PRC testing semen for viruses, bacteria, etc., which is already an accepted practice in cattle. She asks that interested members continue to call to push USDA to consider this option.
Youth chair Joan Chapin provided the board with a draft copy of the questionnaire she would like to send out to our current youth members. The board felt it was a good idea, and the list of questions were comprehensive. Joan would like to use the project to showcase our youth, and get to know them better, while still protecting their privacy.
A life membership was awarded founding member Becky Utecht of MN.
A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for February 1st at 7PM EST.